The worst in the last five centuries, according to scientific estimates, drought it affects Europe, affecting a number of sectors of human activity, from inland shipping to agriculture, food security, hydropower and more, an EU official said this week, confirming data released a few days ago by the European Drought Observatory. According to their data, 47% of the area of ​​E.U. is on “warning” for insufficient soil moisture, and 17% are already on the alert, as dry conditions affect vegetation.

“The severe drought that has hit large areas of Europe since the beginning of this year has steadily worsened and worsened significantly since the beginning of August,” the report said, predicting the phenomenon would not subside in Western countries. Europe and the Mediterranean at least until November.

The successive heatwaves that hit the Old Continent this summer have exacerbated the drought and caused a host of problems such as giant wildfires, water shortages, health problems and more. Indeed, as the latest observatory data confirms, we are experiencing the worst drought in 500 years, the European Commission said in a statement yesterday. The effects of drought on many crops are dramatic. Corn production is expected to be 16% below the five-year average, while soybean and sunflower crops are expected to decline by 15% and 12%, respectively. The shortage of hydroelectric power is significant, and low water levels in rivers affect nuclear power plants by making their cooling systems difficult to operate. Low water levels in European rivers have also created problems for inland navigation, such as transporting goods, mainly coal and oil, on the Rhine.

Prolonged drought threatens China’s agricultural production

Extreme temperatures in the country are now posing a serious threat to crops and harvests in China, causing many water sources to dry up. The authorities are warning and sounding the alarm about the food security of the Asian economic giant. For the first time in its history, at least since 1961, when the corresponding meteorological records began to be compiled, China experienced such a hot summer with such a strong and, most importantly, such a long heat wave. The Yangtze River, the country’s main source of drinking water, has dried up in many areas, and for two months the meteorological service has continuously issued warnings of extremely high temperatures in many Chinese cities. At the same time, it obliges local authorities to set quotas for electricity consumption. Weather conditions are the main problem of agricultural production in the country, where even under normal conditions there is not enough arable land. So on Tuesday, four ministries urged the government to take action to protect crops and use every drop of water “sparingly”.

In recent months, experts have already expressed concern about China’s harvests as pandemic restrictions have delayed spring planting. Food security is a particularly sensitive issue in China because the country has faced famine many times in its history.

China produces more than 95% of its needs in rice, wheat and corn. But crop failures risk boosting imports in the world’s most populous country, while grain stocks are already under pressure due to the war in Ukraine. Temperatures reached record highs in many cities in China, and the mercury rose to 45 degrees Celsius in the southwestern part of the country.

In early August, China’s meteorological service acknowledged that the country’s temperatures had more than doubled the global average since 1951, and this trend is expected to continue into the future. Due to the shortage of water for crops, China is trying to artificially induce rain by spraying the clouds with silver iodide.

Supply chain risks

A severe drought in recent weeks has led to a drop in water levels and hydropower generation in China, leading to power shortages. China is heavily dependent on hydropower to meet its electricity needs. Hydropower accounts for about 15% of the total energy mix, with up to 80% in places like the hardest-hit Sichuan province.

Authorities in some areas have resorted to energy-saving measures, such as turning off decorative lighting and reducing mall hours. They also stimulate the generation of electricity by burning coal and the transmission of electricity from other regions.

Power outages affect both large and small businesses. Since the government has made providing electricity to households and public facilities a priority, many factories have been left without electricity, resulting in reduced production. The affected areas are home to factories of some of the world’s largest car manufacturers, as well as auto parts companies deemed vital to global supply chains, according to Deutsche Welle. Power outages have already disrupted companies like Apple and Tesla.